Have questions about the how, what and why of a textiles degree? For curious rising sophomores and juniors in high school, TexTEC is the perfect way to get a fuller picture of what academic possibilities lie within the Wilson College.

The day-camp is designed to show participants everything they need to know about the scholarships, admissions process and degree programs in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) over the course of two days.

“The main thing I want participants to know is that textiles are not just knitting and tie dye. It’s astronaut suits, tires and new innovative technologies for carbon capture, to name a few possibilities,” TexTEC Camp Coordinator Madilynn Smith says.

TexTEC is designed to be educational, fun and informative. For the first time, this year’s camp was held twice — once at the W. Duke Kimbrell Campus & Textile Technology Center at Gaston College College in Belmont, NC and then at the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State. 

Read more about the program’s history, contents and this year’s expanded scope below.

Developing the program

Polymer Camp: The Chemistry and Engineering of Polymers and Fibers was founded in 2006 by David Hinks, now the Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean, and Jeff Joines, now associate dean. It aimed to introduce prospective students to the polymer and color chemistry and textile engineering undergraduate programs. The day-camp structure targeted high schoolers in surrounding counties early in their search for the right college and major. 

The program was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but found its footing again in 2023 with a flashy new name and scope: TexTEC, for textile technology, engineering and chemistry. Running out of the Textiles Complex on Centennial Campus, the day-camp introduces students interested in STEM disciplines to the world of textiles through tours and workshops. 

“It’s a way to share the word about textiles.” – TexTEC Camp Coordinator Madilynn Smith

Now with an additional session held at the Gaston College, TexTEC was able to expand its mission of recruitment to textiles — this time beyond the scope of the Research Triangle.

“It’s a way to share the word about textiles, reach a different set of people who aren’t local to this area and help grow the whole textile industry,” Smith says. 

The Wilson College of Textiles has often collaborated with the Gaston College’s Textile Technology Center. Together, the colleges have combined their resources to pool knowledge and talent to best support and improve North Carolina’s textile industry.

Opening a window

Two days is not enough time to showcase the vast array of technology and facilities at the Wilson College, but Smith says they squeeze in as much information as possible. The goal is to expose participants to the world of textiles, hopefully inclining them to enroll in the Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP).

“They will get to see the undergraduate labs; they’ll get to screen print in the dyeing and finishing labs; they’ll get to use the microscopes; they’ll get exposure to new machines that they haven’t seen, besides on television,” Smith says.

Information sessions fill every gap in the schedule. Participants can count on formal introductions to the Wilson College’s scholarships, academic and career services, and undergraduate research opportunities. 

Professors from each sub-discipline of TECS give windows into their research and teachings with presentations and curated experiments. 

“Dr. Salmon is doing a lot with sustainability and carbon capture, and she worked in the industry first with enzymes, so that’s a very cool perspective. Another presenter is Dr. Williams Cherry, who’s very into the dye world and sustainability,” Smith says. “So it lets students see more about each different area.” 

Alongside academic demonstrations, participants get the chance to work with their hands inside the undergraduate labs, from creating plaster composites to printing their own keepsake shirts.

“They’re not doing full research projects, but they’re getting exposed to the resources available on campus,” Smith says. “They can see what the options are and the cool things they could use daily if they were to come here.”